Rain Song (MJRF2010)

A remix of my very first post here at MacJams. It was not particularly well received, I think: it was made with loops (eeeuww!), it was too long, and the loops that I used were probably in fairly close order to the way they were originally played when the loops were being made, and on the same instrument (a piano). Boring and for shame.

I loved the delight and exuberance in my original piece and called it "A Song for Rain". I still like it, and though I know it's not very original I felt that this remix was a sufficient improvement over the original (light years), reflecting what I've learned over the past year from many of you, that it was worthy of reposting.

I have shortened the overall tune and moved a few bits around. It is still all loops but, fortunately for me, they are software instruments. I have changed the piano to pizzicato cello (mostly) and added other instrumentation to properly (I think) compliment the new arrangement. Finally, I did lots of tweaking in the production studio to get what you can hear now. Which is supposed to be my humble tribute to an elemental substance, without which we wouldn't be here.

I'm sure it still has flaws and could be further improved: if you think so, let me know. In the meantime, enjoy a couple of minutes dancing through the rain.

There's nothing like
a warm spring rain to get you in a good mood and feeling fine. This is a celebration of renewal and life Richard and I just love it. If it weren't so darned cold out I'd go out and stand in the rain and listen to it.

Catching raindrops
The pizz string sounds really bring forth a sun shower kind of warm rain. You've set them in a nice sound stage. I wonder if there is a way to sharpen the attack a bit on some of the brass sounds like around 1:28. Some seem to be fine and others a bit smeared. You have a really gentle and joyous feel to this tune, and the delicacy of your orchestration is well considered. I think there may be some midi notes that got moved to after the close of the song (2:48).

Loop Homage
This is like a MIDI homage to those original loops. (I think I hear a new Loop Homage Challenge in there somewhere!) I enjoyed the lightness. It is a summer rain, the kind you play. Its nice to recall that things like rain can be celebrated, instead of avoided. Nice.

Really enjoyed
this piece Richard. It does have the fresh feel of rain and the photo says it all LOL. I think you did an excellent job here if it was loops... though it doesn't sound like them. I like the cello pizzicato and all the other instrument choices for that matter, regards M

thoughtful
more creative than i, when i first played with GB... didn't think to change instruments out from under the loops early on. it is refreshing to hear them played on different instruments, well done here. and i especially liked the smirky ending on this... an upbeat enjoyable piece.
ttfn,
Drakonis

Nice
Great job Richard. I love the mood here. kinda a mid-morning wake up but still could Kinda a mid morning wakeup call but still wanting to sleep.lol. Nice arrangement. The production sounds fine to my humble ears and I have no nit picks

How do you do that...
...with loops? This is such an exuberant composition and you've mixed all the elements in such a unique, controlled, and expressive manner. A most enjoyable composition that captures the essence of your description. A little bit of programme music that could easily accompany the scene in your chosen picture, too. Really pleasant, Richard.

MAde me smile
I could sure do with that rain today - hot and humid. It might come tonight hopefully. This is quite a special piece of looping Richard - hard to imagine that it's made that way.
I'm impressed.
Thanks for submitting it for the MJRFest!
Neil

you have
such a good ear. I really really like this re-vamped version. The use of the strings gives it a whole new feel, and I also like that you kept some of the original piano. Great mixing job, Richard. This is very fun - I love rain. Thanks for another great piece.

What's past is prologue
23 September 2016
Howdy!
After an absence of two years at MacJams I'm back and making some noise.
I haven't been totally absent but my interest in music was practically nada. My wife Anne died last year after a... [see more]